Funding from the partnership will assist Houston Bike Share, the system’s nonprofit operator, in its efforts to expand access to bike share across the city. In 2018 alone, Houston BCycle was able to add 35 new stations to its network and grow its ridership to over 165,000 annual trips.

“Last year was exceptional in terms of growth, and this year our usage rate is up 100% in the first two months of 2019. We attribute a large part of the program’s ongoing success to the sponsorship from Baylor St. Luke’s.” said Beth Martin, Executive Director of Houston Bike Share. “We couldn’t ask for a better partner in our mission toward a healthier, happier, and more sustainable Houston.”

Something has clicked with Houstonians and bike share. While Houston BCycle has been steadily growing its ridership since launching in 2012, the growth has always been linear–at an increase about 15% per year. In the first two months of 2019, however, Houston BCycle riders have outperformed ridership from the same period in 2018 by 100%.

“It’s incredible to watch the numbers soar,” said Henry Morris, who manages Development & Communications for the bike share nonprofit. “As inner-loop Houston continues to get denser and denser, we predict that membership sign-ups will continue to rise. Bike share is a simple and natural solution to increased traffic and limited parking.”

Baylor St. Luke’s-branded BCycles are driving riders to the healthcare system’s 5-Day Health Challenges, which encourage exercise through easy-to-follow fitness programs of varying intensity. Along with Baylor St. Luke’s employees, 5-Day Health Challenge participants receive discounted access to Houston BCycle as an incentive to use the bikes to fulfill their fitness requirements.

“As the Official Healthcare Partner of Houston BCycle, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center furthers our mission of creating healthier communities by promoting active lifestyles throughout Houston,” said T. Douglas Lawson, PhD, Baylor St. Luke’s President and CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) Texas Division. “We hope that our fellow Houstonians will combine one of our Health Challenges with the fun of biking in our beautiful city.”

Houston BCycle will continue to expand the system to 130 stations and over 1,000 bikes in the next two years. Those interested in pursuing the open sponsorship opportunity can reach out through the Houston BCycle website.

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ABOUT HOUSTON BCYCLE

Houston BCycle currently provides bike share services from 90 stations and 635 bikes across multiple Central Houston neighborhoods. The system is operated by Houston Bike Share, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide equitable access to bike share that fosters recreation, mobility and personal wellness. Learn more at houstonbcycle.com.

ABOUT BAYLOR ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed quaternary care academic medical center that is a joint venture between Baylor College of Medicine and CHI St. Luke’s Health. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the hospital is the home of the Texas Heart® Institute, a world-class cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD—consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best in Cardiovascular Services & Heart Surgery. The hospital was the first facility in Texas and the Southwest designated a Magnet® hospital for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, receiving the award four consecutive times. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area.

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